Tag Archives: Treatment

Other medications

During the course of treating Wegener’s granulomatosis, doctors often give their patients other medicines to prevent medicine-related side effects. These include Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (also called bactrim or septra) is given three times a week to prevent Pneumocystis carinii infection (a lung … Continue reading

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Azathioprine

Azathioprine (also called Imuran) is used primarily to maintain remission in people who have initially been treated and gone into remission with cyclophosphamide. It is taken once a day by mouth. Similar to methotrexate, it is usually given for 1 … Continue reading

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Methotrexate

Methotrexate has been studied at NIH for the treatment of Wegener’s granulomatosis since 1990. In people with active, but not immediately life threatening, Wegener’s granulomatosis, methotrexate has been used in combination with prednisone to bring about remission. It also is … Continue reading

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Cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) is the most commonly used cytotoxic drug used to treat Wegener’s granulomatosis. People take cyclophosphamide once a day by mouth and must take the drug all at once in the morning followed by drinking a large amount of … Continue reading

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Prednisone

Prednisone is the most common glucocorticoid that doctors use. Prednisone is similar to cortisol, the natural glucocorticoid hormone produced by the body. It is chemically different from the anabolic steroids that have been used by athletes and is given in … Continue reading

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Treatment Overview

In most cases, treatment consists of a combination of a glucocorticoid (a steroid) and a cytotoxic medicine. Although these medicines are helpful in treating Wegener’s granulomatosis, people and their doctors should be aware that they potentially have serious side effects. … Continue reading

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